Conservation Optimism Summit

“Like Graham Norton meets the vagina monologues for the anthropocene” The Economist

Kat Jones works in public relations for RSPB Scotland so her daily struggles include dealing with local objections to giving goats contraceptives, farmers’ mixed attitudes to sea eagles, and how to find innovative ways to show the children of Scotland that wildlife is WAY more interesting than a play station.

Julia Jones is a professor of conservation science at Bangor University whose work focuses on conservation efforts and their impacts on local communities (mostly in Madagascar). Julia is not feeling very optimistic (and not only because she has just marked 110 undergraduate reports).

Whenever these sisters get together they find themselves incredulous about assumptions and practices in each other’s realm of conservation and, without fail, have a really good discussion (always full of sisterly good humour).

When Conservation Optimism was announced, Kat wanted to go but Julia wasn’t sure-her lack of optimism was getting in the way. Together they went on a journey, interviewing conservationists from around the world and this talk show style discussion is the result.

Warning: this event involves audience participation in the form of a song…..

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Projector screen, computer and loud speakers (for video projection)

Panel members:
EJ Milner-Gulland as Chair,
Francis Tarla (MENTOR POP Cameroon)
Shivani Bhalla (Ewaso Lions)
Elisabeth Whitebread (Greenpeace/Ocean Optimism)
Liz Bennett (WCS)

Panel each to give a brief summary of what they came into the summit expecting, what struck them most about the Summit, and how they think we as a community should move forward (3 mins each = 15 mins) followed by an open floor for delegates to say what they think (15 mins) then a 1 min summing up by each panellist at the end (5 mins), leaving 10 mins at the end for thank yous.